The AAF folded last week, ending in the middle of their inaugural season, but spring football will be back next year with the XFL. Led by deep-pocketed billionaire Vince McMahon and with more time to plan compared to the AAF’s rush to launch, the XFL figures to be much more successful than the AAF. The eight cities for the next startup football league are known, but they do not yet have team names, so we’ve come up with XFL team names for each city.
Dallas Drifters
Back in 2001 when the XFL was first in existence, the names were pretty edgy (the New York/New Jersey team was called the “Hitmen”), and while they’ll probably be tamer for 2020, there should be good names to play with. For many people, the Dallas Drifters would probably bring up thoughts of a gun-slinging killer that comes and goes as he pleases, but the name itself isn’t at all controversial. The XFL might feel Drifters is too similar of a name to Cowboys, but a drifter arguably sounds cooler than a cowboy. The logo could be a black-hatted gentleman that lets you know what the team is about.
Houston Space
Houston is known as the world capital of space exploration, so a simple name like the Houston Space (or maybe Spacemen) for an XFL team would work. This would fall in line with two major professional sports teams in Houston—the NBA’s Rockets and the MLB’s Astros—which is a plus as the team looks to get a foothold in the area.
Los Angeles Vipers
Ideally, the animals associated with team names will be relevant to the area, and southern California has an abundance of snakes, including vipers. The Arizona Diamondbacks of the MLB are the only other major professional sports team names after a snake, viper is arguably one of the better animal names to use for a team name, and the Los Angeles Vipers sounds original. Desperados, Runners, and Stars were three other potential names in consideration for the Los Angeles XFL team.
New York Knights
This might be the best potential XFL team name on the list, as New York Knights just flows very nicely, and “Knights” is an imposing and dignified name that’s been underutilized in professional sports (the Golden Knights of the NHL made a great choice for their expansion team name). A knight mascot—whether a dude dressed as a knight or a cartoonish knight like UCF uses—would probably be the best in the league. It’s easy to picture the New York Knights becoming the XFL’s most popular team.
Seattle Sea Lions
Sea lions are amusing creatures, the fact that “lion” is in the name makes them more imposing, and there are a lot of them around Seattle. The SEA-SEA to start the city name and mascot name might be ripping off the Seahawks a bit, but the XFL probably doesn’t care if the NFL is mad about that. Considering all the rain in Seattle, the Sun Dodgers might also be a pretty good original name. (Seattle Rain might’ve been the choice if not for the NWSL’s Seattle Reign FC women’s soccer team.)
St. Louis Steel
Incorporating something about St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch seems like a good idea to get people understandable upset about the NFL taking away their franchise to rally around a new football team that takes pride in the city. The Gateway Arch consists of steel, so the St. Louis Steel would be a tough name that can incorporate the arch into the team logo. A primary gray steel color scheme—perhaps for alternate uniform at least—would be something different.
Tampa Bay Bull Sharks
Tampa Bay was the most difficult city to come up with an XFL team name, but the alliteration between Bay and Bull makes “Tampa Bay Bull Sharks” sound smooth. And bull sharks are among the most dangerous sharks, making the team name more daunting. The Gators might be a better option, but it’s unclear if the University of Florida’s Gator name would be a positive or negative for the XFL—the league probably has the research to determine that if Gators is under consideration.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Generals might work better if not for the basketball team of the same name (the one that the Globetrotters beat up on), but the Washington Commanders is a similar name that projects power and solidity. There shouldn’t be much concern about “stealing” the name of an AAF team (the San Antonio Commanders), as the AAF will be far in the rear-view when the XFL takes the field next spring. The Washington Americans and Washington Wardens are two other options for the XFL team in the nation’s capital.
Inject New York Knights into my veins.
This got me hype
These names are really good ideas. I like NY Knights especially.
You know what? That’s clever. STL Steel. Not to be confused by the NFL PIT Steelers, but STL’s XFL team can easily reference the STL Gateway Arch.
As a kid, I had a bunch of imaginary teams, that played an imaginary game called crocketball. One of my imaginary teams became real, when the Minnesota Northstars moved to Dallas and became the DALLAS STARS. Another imaginary team was known as the NEW YORK KNIGHTS. True story.
who gives flying fux about your story. You are irrelevant. Move on
Don’t mind Dwayne, Samuel. He’s actually just a keyboard tough-guy still living with his mommy (in her basement). Makes him feel tough to troll. Pretty sure he and his boyfriend were fighting at the time of his comment too. Anyway, pay this tiny man no attention.
The Houston Name needs to be the Houston Oilers, This is still a Oil Town
Roughnecks would be a fitting if u want a oil based name
Fantastic!
I wish they would add the Brimingham Iron. We need a pro team in Alabama and I love the name.
Sure, they drew less than 15,000 per game
And? Do you really think the XFL is going to draw any more? What a stupid comment.
How about the St. Louis Rhythm. We would then have the Rhythm and Blues in our Town. Or how about the St. Louis Rowdies.
NY Knights were once an Arena FB League team, NY/NJ Knights, were in the World League of American Football. Both teams failed.
Washington Stars N Stripes. go patriotic. Sorry but the Commanders name resembles the Commandos (the old Arena team)
DBL post
How about the Washington Avengers?
Dallas Tornadoes
Houston Astronauts
St Louis Strong Fighters
Los Angeles Waves
New York Towers
Seattle Orcas
Tampa Bay Sand Dollars
Washington Statesmen
Yup
Houston -Wildcats or Roughnecks,
Houston wranglers ,NYC knights, st.louis archers , Seattle sea dogs , la gladiators, Washington soldiers, Dallas sundowners,tampa bay pythons
This is one of the best articles that I’ve read on this subject, but here is my two cents…
Dallas Outlaws – Edgier than Drifters and it makes the Cowboys look like the Brokeback Mountaineers.
Houston Drillers – Tougher than Oilers and NASA can’t find the moon these days.
Seattle Rainmakers – A cross between a rain dance and those who make things happen. A tribute to the Natives.
Tampa Bay Swashbucklers – Don’t have to take down the pirate ship at the stadium.
St. Louis Spirit – Team spirit, the plane, etc.
Washington Generals – General George Washington. Screw the Globetrotters on this one.
New York Empire – It’s the Empire State and that is what the XFL will try to build in the Big Apple.
Los Angeles Lancers – Nice alliteration and beat the NFL’s Chargers to a knight type theme.
Your thoughts?
So damn good unique and original names here
Tampa Bay Storm
New York Hawks
Washington Warriors
St Louis Knights
Seattle sharks
Los Angeles Avengers
Dallas outlaws
Houston mustangs
How about the Dallas Dirtbags, the New York Strip Steaks and the Washington Who The F Cares! GO PHILLY!!!
I like the names
How about this?
Dallas Calvary
Houston Galaxy
Las Vegas Gamblers
New York Empire
Seattle Lumberjacks
St. Louis Spiders
Tampa Bay Barracudas
Washington Armada
Los Angeles Devastation
New York Empire sounds fantastic.
How about these names?
Dallas Calvary
Houston Galaxy
Las Vegas Gamblers
New York Empire
Seattle Lumberjacks
St. Louis Spiders
Tampa Bay Barracudas
Washington Armada
Los Angeles Devastation
How about these names?
Dallas Dominoes
Houston Gauchos
Las Vegas Vice
New York Neutrons
Seattle Sorcerers
St. Louis Ratrods
Tampa Bay Amberjacks
Washington Corruption
Los Angeles Quakes
Houston Havoc, Washington Warriors, TB Wave, NY Towers, STL Marvels, SEA Timbers, LA Gold, DAL Dazzle
Hou Heat, Dal Dragons , STL Centaurs, NY Empire, WAS Senators, SEA Storm, Tampa Tidal, LA Avengers,
Las Vegas BlackJacks
Houston Riggers
New York Finest
Washington Rebels
St. Louis Steel
Tampa Bay RoadWarriors
Los Angeles Stars
Seattle Scavengers
They should have called the LA team the Los Angeles Riot or Rioters.
They should have called the LA team the Riot or Rioters.
new york scrapers, seattle whales,tampa bay skeeters,houston drillers,st louis flood,,dallas steers,los angeles locomotives, washington crowns
How about the St. Louis Murder. With the logo being a crow and the alternate being a body lined in chalk. We are the murder capital of the US and a group of crows is called a murder. Might be a little dark but I can’t think of anything more extreme then that.
Seattle Sea Nouns
Los Angeles Noshows
Dallas Malice
Houston Louisianans
New York Yo’s
St. Louis Sin
Tampa Bay Bees
Washington Scandals
Washington Americans sounds good
I saw a couple of great ones for St. Louis elsewhere. The St. Louis Gatekeepers was one. St. Louis Blue Jays was another. A Blue Jays mascot could be a blue colored Fred Bird but called Lou Bird.